diff --git a/git-merge.sh b/git-merge.sh
index 272f004622..efdbabf775 100755
--- a/git-merge.sh
+++ b/git-merge.sh
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ else
 	merge_name=$(for remote
 		do
 			rh=$(git-rev-parse --verify "$remote"^0 2>/dev/null) &&
-			bh=$(git show-ref -s --verify "refs/heads/$remote") &&
+			bh=$(git show-ref -s --verify "refs/heads/$remote" 2>/dev/null) &&
 			if test "$rh" = "$bh"
 			then
 				echo "$rh		branch '$remote' of ."